Bath cabinet



J, F. KRUSE BATH CABINET Marcvh 24, 1931.

Filed March 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HQE.

gwen/coc' Kaz/5E JOHNI F Patented Mar.` 24, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. K RUSE, F INDIANAPOLIS;V INDIANA BATH CABINET Application filed March 8, 1930. Serial No. 434,189.

This invention relates to bath cabinets and particularly to that class known as vapor bath cabinets and one feautre of the invention is in so constructing the cabinet that the patient may be readily and easily placed therein or removed therefrom.

A further feature of the invention is in so constructing the cabinet that it will occupy but a minimum amount of space in a room an without decreasing the capacity of the cabinet.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for conveying the vaporized medium lengthwise of the cabinet.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for regulating the discharge of the vaporized medium into the cabinet, either the entire length thereof or at suitable points therein.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for extending the head of the patient exteriorly of the cabinet and at the same time convey the vaporized medium therearound.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for medicating the vapor prior to entering the same into the cabinet.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of means for directing a dry heat 0 into the cabinet when desired.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanying specification.

5 In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application,

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet in closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar view in open position.

Figure 3 is a'central longitudinal sectional View through the cabinet.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the vapor conveying pipe and controlling means therefor in discharging posi- 4.5 tion,

Figure 5 is a similar view with the parts in closed position.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a head covering hood,

,Figure 7 is a sectional view thereof with the head of a patient therein, the section being taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Figure 8v is an elevation of the vapor distributing means for the head covering hood, removed from the cabinet, and,

.Figure 9 is a top plan view thereof.

Re erring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the' several views, the' numeral l designa-tes the body of the cabinet, the rear wall 2 of which extends in a substantially straight line throughout its height, while the upper portion of the front wall 3 of the cabinet is gradually curved rearwardly until it develops into the top edge of the rear wall 2, to provide a curved top 4 of the cabinet.

A portion'of the curved top 4 is formed into a lid 5, the rear edge of which is hinged so that the lid may be swung upwardly and rearwardly when a patient is to be entered into or removed from the cabinet, the forward edge of the lid resting on the top edge of the straight portion of the front wall 3, when closed. A portion of the front wall v3 is formed into a door 6, which is hinged to the remainder of the front wall and is to be swung downwardly to furtherincrease the opening for the passage of the body of the patient, when entering or retiring from the cabinet.

The front end wall 7 of the cabinet is provided with a substantially U-shaped opening 8, through which the neck portion of the patient extends when occupying the cabinet so as to dispose the head of the patient exteriorly of the cabinet, aportion of the end wall 7 being formed into a flap 9 for opening or closing the top end of the opening 8, said flap being hinged to the remainder of the end wall 7 so that it may be readily swung to open or closed position. Hinged to the end wall 7 adjacent the lower end of the openin 8, is a head rest 10, to receive the head of t 1e patient, said rest having an adjusting bar 11 for cooperation with a rack 12, so that the head rest may be adjusted to diiferent heights, as desired.

lhe interior of the cabinet is divided into .an upper and a lower compartment 13 and 14, respectively, by means of a platform 15, preferably formed by spaced slats and which forms a support for the body of the patient, 'when in the cabinet.

Extending longitudinally of the compartment 14 is a heat and vapor conveying pipe 16, to one end of which is attached any suitable form of heating and vaporizing element 17, preferably electrically operated, said pipe 16 having a plurality lof ports 18, through which the heat and vaporized medium may pass to the interior of the cabinet.

In order to control the discharge of the heat and vaporized medium into the cabinet and to localize the same at any part of the anatomy of the patient, a plurality of sleeves 19 are disposed around the pipe 16, said sleeves having orts formed through the walls of the s eeves, which ports are adapted to be moved into or out of registration with the ports 18 of the pipe 16. Each sleeve 19 is provided with an ear 21, to which is attached a controlling rod 22, said rods extending through the front wall 3 of the cabinet so that they may be readily grasped for rotating the sleeves 19 for regulating the passage of heat and vaporized medium passing through the ports.

As the head of the patient is eXteriorly of the cabinet and as it is sometimes desirable to subject this part of the patient to treatment, a hollow yoke like member 23 is entered in the opening 8, with a lining 24, of any suitable non-heat conducting material, to prevent the heat coming in direct contact with the neck of the patient, said yoke having escape ports 25, through which thevaporized medium and heat may discharge from the yoke. In order to confine the products escaping from the ports 25, a hood 26 is provided, which is slipped over the head of the patient, with the open end thereof enclosing the ports 25 of the yoke, suitable visual and breathing openings being preferably formed through the hood. The yoke like member 23 is attached to the forward end of the pipe 16 and the passage of the heat and vaporized medium is controlled in its passage to the yoke, by means of a valve 27, said valve having a stem 28 attached thereto, which projects through the front wall 3 of the cabinet, so that the valve may be readily opened or closed.

If additional dry heat is required for the interior, or if dry heat alone is required, an ordinary heating element 29 may be mounted on the rear end 30 of the cabinet, the wall 30 having an opening 31 therethrough, over which the heating element is placed, and if desired, a gratin 32 may be positioned over the open end of 51e heatlng element for protection purposes.

The hood 26 may be constructed of any suitable material, but preferably consists of a coverin of any suitable flexible material, such as c oth, rubber or the like,.the lower edges being secured to a suitable base membe: 33, which passes beneath the head of the patient and rests on the head rest 10, while that edge of the hook abutting against the end wall 7, is preferably reinforced b means of a wire loop 34, which renders t e hood more or less rigid at this point. i

This form of bath cabinet is used primarily for administering what is known as medicated baths and to accomplish this result, certain medicinal products are placed in the element 17, either in liquid or dry form, but when used in a dry form, any suitable form of moisture producing medium is entered in a compartment of the element 17 so that the vapors arising ltherefrom will pick up the medicinal properties and carry them into the body of the cabinet.

After the patient has been placed in the cabinet, the element 17 is energized for creating heat and this heat is maintained until the interior of the cabinet has been raised to the prescribed degree, the heat and vapors arising from the element 17 entering the pipe 16 and eventually entering the body of the cabinet and in contact with the patient therein, through the ports 18 and 20, or such of them as are in registration with each other. lf at this time the head of the patient is not being treated, the valve 27 is kept closed.

If some particular part of the body requires special treatment, any one or even two of the sleeves 19 may be rotated to move the ports in the sleeves so rotated out of alinement with the ports of the pipe 16, thereby localizing the strength of the vapors at one particular part or parts of the body. As an example, if the lower or feet portion of the body of the patient is to be treated more than the rest of the body, the middle sleeve and the one below the upper portion of the patient or turned to close the ports within these sleeve sections, or if the central portion of the body is to receive the greatest treatment, the two end sleeves are operated to close the ports therein, or if the upper portion of the body is to receive the directed treatment, then the sleeve at the foot portion of the body and the central sleeve are operated to close the ports associated therewith. It will thus be seen that the entire body may be treated, including the head at the same time, or the treatment may be localized at any particular part or parts of the body, as may be desired.

It will likewise be seen that by constructing the cabinet in the manner shown, a very compact and at the same time, strong and durable cabinet islproduced and one that may be placed against the wall or back to back, for conserving space and arranging them conveniently for the introduction or removal of patients and one that can be produced at a minimum cost.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a bath cabinet, a body portion, a neck receiving opening in one end wall of the body portion, a pipe for conveying vapors through said body portion, means connected with said pipe and fitting in and around the walls of said opening for discharging vapors exteriorly of the body portion, and a hood adapted to be positioned over the head of a patient or confining the vapors discharged eX- teriorly of the body portion. f

2. In a bath cabinet, a body portion having a substantially U-shapedneck receiving opening in one end thereof, a hollow substantially U-shaped vapor conveying member in said opening, a heat resisting lining between said member and the parts of a human body entered in said opening, said member having ports in the outer side face thereof for discharging vapors exteriorly of the body portion, a hood adapted to be extended over the head of a patient and over said portsfor conlining the vaporsv around the head of the patient, means for conveying vapors to said member, and means for controlling the admission of vapors to said member.

. 3. In a bath cabinet, a compartment for the reception of a patient,one end wall of said compartment having an opening for receiving the neck portion of the patient, means for conveying medicated vapors into said body receiving compartment, means for conveying the vapors through said opening, and a heat l producing element carriedby the other end and having wall of said compartment for creating a dry heat in the upper portion of said compartment and above the body of the patient.

4. In a bath cabinet, abody portion, a pipe member for conveying vapors through said bodyportion,said'pipehavingdischargeports, throughout its length, meansfor conveying vapors into said pipe, a lurality of sleeves surrounding said pipe a uttingi'end toend Cports for registrationJ with the ports of sai pipe member, and individual means for vrotating said sleeves on the pipe member, whereby the ports of any particular sleeve may be moved out of registration with the cooperating ports of the pipe.

5. In a bath cabinet, a bodyportion, a back wall therefor vertical throughout its height, a front wall having a straight vertical portion and a rearwardly curved portion extending from the top edge of the vertical front wall to the top ed e of the rear wall formed from a part of said straight front wall, end walls for said body portion, one of said end walls having a neck receiving opening extending downwardly from the top edge thereof, and a horizontally movable flap adapted to be swung over said openin and in alignment with the remainder of sai end wall when the cabinet is in use and rearwardly when the patient is entering or leaving the cabinet.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on this the 27th day of February, '1930.

JOHN F. KRUSE.

forming a top for the ca inet, a lid formed from a 'part of said curved portion, a door` 

